Armored ship construction



April 7, 1942. J, c, MGQ'UERRY 2,278,938

ARMORED SHIP CONSTRUCTION Filed April 16, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENToR.

ATTURNEYS.

i April 7, 1942.- J. C, MCQUERRY 2,27838 ARMORED SHIP CONSTRUCTION l Filed April 16, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mi iwf um Jamo @warrig 1N VEN TOR.

// /r/ 1 h/l A TTORNEYS.

Patented Apr. 7, 1942 f UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE ARMORED SHIP CONSTRUCTION James Cravens McQuerry, Fort Worth, Tex.

Application April 16, 1940, Serial No. 329,988

1 Claim.

This invention relates to ,shipI construction, the primary object of the invention being to provide means for protecting a ship against damage by bombs, torpedoes or the like.

An important object of the invention is to provide a cushioning material between the outer and inner shells of a ships hull, the cushioning material being positioned in bale form, which bales are constructed so that the adjacent ends thereof overlap, holding the bales against movement with respect to each other.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a cushioning means between the outer and inner shells of the hull, the cushioning means being of a construction to find its way into an opening formed in the hull of the ship, caused by the action of a torpedo or bomb, to ll the opening and prevent the entrance of sea water into the hull of the ship.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a cushioning material which will expand within the space between the shells of the hull, to completely ll the space.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein described, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a fragmental sectional View through the hull of a ship, protected in accordance with the invention, and showing the protecting material as packed between the outer and inner shells of the hull.

Figure 2 is a fragmental elevational view of the hull of a ship, partly broken away illustrating the protecting material in position.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the reference character 5 designates the keel of a ship, the keel being constructed in the usual and well known manner, and formed with grooves for the reception of the lower ends of the inner shell B and outer shell 1, constituting the hull of the ship.

The inner and outer shells extend to a point adjacent to the deck 8 where they connect with the cross beams 9 of the ship, in the usual and well known manner.

As clearly shown by the drawings, these shells 6 and 'l are spaced apart providing a compartment or space throughout the entire length of the ship, from stem to stern post, and from the keel 5 to the deck 8. The armor material, which is constructed preferably of bales of strongly compressed cotton, pressed in a predetermined manner. These bales are indicated by the reference character I0, and as shown, have their side edges beveled as at H, so that when bales are positioned between the outer and inner shells of the hull, the side edges of one bale will overlap the side edge of the adjacent bale, locking the bales together. The ends of the bales `are also inclined, so that the adjacent ends of the bales will overlap to hold the bales against movement with respect to each other at this point.

In the construction of the bales, the bales are held together by the bale wires I2 which hold the bales in their compressed forms until properly positioned between the outer and inner shells of the hull.

After the bales have been positioned, the bale wires l2 are cut, releasing the compressed cotton, and allowing the cotton to expand to completely ll the space between the shells 6 and l.

From the foregoing it will be seen that due to the construction shown and described, I have provided an armor for a ships hull capable of resisting the penetrating forces of projectiles such as torpedoes, bombs or the like, and if the hull of the ship should be pierced, the armor being of a fibrous character, will nd its way into the opening plugging the opening and preventing sea water entering the hull of the ship.

It might be further stated that the angle bars which are indicated by the reference character I3, and which hold the inner andouter` shells of the hull in spaced relation with respect to each other are also disposed at oblique angles with respect to the inner and outer shells, to conform to the inclined edges of the bales, insuring a close t between the bales and angle bars.

What is claimed is:

An armored ships hull embodying spaced outer and inner shells, bales of fibrous material filling the space between the shells and the side edges and ends of the bales being inclined whereby the `contacting surfaces of the adjacent bales overlap, anchoring the bales in position between the shells.

JAMES CRAVEN S MCQUERRY. 

